Jewels of the Jungle Bromeliaceae of Ecuador Part 2
Pitcairnioideae

Author: Jose M. Manzanares

In part II, a small study is presented of the 15 genera in the subfamily Pitcairnioideae, with details of their characteristics, along with photographs in situ, in order to aid in their classification.

In Ecuador, this subfamily is comprised of only Pitcairnia and Puya. Pitcairnia has 83 species, 1 natural hybrid, 11 varieties, and 1 form, and Puya (the Queen of the paramos) has 34 species, 2 natural hybrids, 12 varieties, and 1 form. Each species, as in the first volume, contains a morphological description, materials examined, observations of the habitat, distribution, and photographs of the plant in flower and of the inflorescence.

In this opus, 14 new species, 4 varieties, and 1 form of Pitcairnia, and 9 new species of Puya and 2 new hybrids have been published. Thus, 23 species, 4 varieties, 2 natural hybrids, and 1 form, all new to science, are presented.